Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph gets new five-year contract

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph hauls in a pass during drills on the first day of training camp in Mankato on Friday, July 25, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

MANKATO, Minn. -- Kyle Rudolph had been saying since last December that he wanted to sign a contract extension. He got his wish Sunday night.

The Vikings tight end signed a new five-year, $36.5 million contract, $19.4 million of it guaranteed. He had one year left on a four-year, $3.9 million deal he inked after being selected by Minnesota in 2011 out of Notre Dame with the No. 43 pick in the second round.

"I'm extremely excited to get this extension completed and continue my career with the Minnesota Vikings," Rudolph said in a statement. "I've said all along I wanted to stay in Minnesota. I love the fans, the community and, most importantly, I'm excited about where this team is going. I'm looking forward to the 2014 season and helping this organization reach our ultimate goal."

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman had indicated a day before Friday's start of training camp, that he wanted to hold on to Rudolph.

"I'm very excited to get this extension done with Kyle," Spielman said in a statement. "We drafted him; he's done a tremendous job since he's been here. Our whole focus on moving forward in this organization is to draft our players, develop them and keep them here.

"He's one of our young guys who is going to be a building block as we go forward in the future and just very excited to get this behind us so we can look forward to seeing him produce over the coming years.

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The tight end had told the Pioneer Press last December, "I want to be a Minnesota Viking for life."

Rudolph made the Pro Bowl in his second season of 2012. However, he was lost for the year with a foot injury suffered in the eighth game last season.

In three seasons, Rudolph has 109 catches for 1,055 yards. Rudolph, 24, told the Pioneer Press last April that he believes he is the NFL's best tight end.

"There's a ton of talented tight ends in our game," Rudolph said then. "You have guys that play at a high level, like Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten and Vernon Davis. But I would put myself up there with them."